Mercury puts on a great display this month remaining easily seen above the eastern horizon before the
Sun rises. Mercury reaches western elongation on the 16th and if you look closely you will see a thin 27 day old waning crescent Moon
just above Mercury.
Venus rises around 3 hours before the Sun and continues to dominate the morning skies shining brightly above the
southeastern horizon. Watch Venus pass by the open star cluster M-35 near the feet of the Gemini Twins coming the closest on the morning of the
8th as this graphic shows.
Mars is visible over the western horizon at sunset and sets 1-2 hours later. During this month, and as long as Mars
is visible above the horizon before setting, you can get a sense of it sorbital speed by watching it move from the right side of Saturn and Spica
to the left side passing right between them. On the evening of the first Mars is just barely visible within the same binocular field of view as
Saturn and Spica. However by the 13th-14th Mars will be between the two.
Asteroid Vesta passes through the stars of the open cluster the Hyades during the first 10 or so days of the month coming the
closest to the star aldebaran on the morning of the 6th. Click on the graphic to watch a short animated graphic that shows the changing position of Vesta
set to 1-day intervals from august 1-10.
Jupiter is up to the right from Venus and is visible near the stars of the open star cluster The Hyades in Taurus.
Jupiter will stay within a binocular field of view of these stars for most of the month.
Saturn is visible over the western horizon at sunset and sets 1-2 hours later. It is still within
a binocular field of view from the bluish-white star Spica in Virgo.
Venus rises around 3 hours before the Sun and continues to dominate the morning skies shining brightly above the
southeastern horizon. Watch Venus pass by the open star cluster M-35 near the feet of the Gemini Twins coming the closest on the morning of the
8th as this graphic shows.
Mars is visible over the western horizon at sunset and sets 1-2 hours later. During this month, and as long as Mars
is visible above the horizon before setting, you can get a sense of it sorbital speed by watching it move from the right side of Saturn and Spica
to the left side passing right between them. On the evening of the first Mars is just barely visible within the same binocular field of view as
Saturn and Spica. However by the 13th-14th Mars will be between the two.
Jupiter is up to the right from Venus and is visible near the stars of the open star cluster The Hyades in Taurus.
Jupiter will stay within a binocular field of view of these stars for most of the month.
